Open Book with Jenna

Jenna Bush Hager sits down with actor, comedian, and Jenna & Friends co-host, Matt Rogers. Rogers co-hosts the pop culture podcast "Las Culturistas” with Bowen Yang and stars in Netflix’s comedy series “No Good Deed.” He opens up about his journey from prom king to pop culture podcaster. He also shares how he redefined what success means to him after not getting hired on Saturday Night Live, and h...

“The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert and his wife of more than 30 years, Evie McGee Colbert join Jenna Bush Hager to talk about their cookbook “Does This Taste Funny?,”  their favorite family recipes, and the joy of cooking together. They also share stories from their thirty years of marriage, who’s the better chef, and why humor is the secret ingredient in their relationship. Hosted by Simplecast...

Jamie Lee Curtis is a Hollywood legend, an Oscar & Emmy Award winning actor, and a New York Times Bestselling Author. Jamie joins Jenna Bush Hager to discuss her upcoming film “Freakier Friday.” . She reflects on her forty years of marriage, her path to sobriety, and what it was like growing up with famous parents Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. She also opens up about her career blossoming at the ag...

Jenny Han is a literary powerhouse and New York Times bestselling author of the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” series and “The Summer I Turned Pretty” series. She is also the creator and co-showrunner of The Summer I Turned Pretty television series. Jenny sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to chat about how she built a media empire that showcases diverse characters and young women coming into the...

Jenna Bush Hager sits down with bestselling author Ann Patchett live at the Read with Jenna Book Festival in Nashville. Ann opens up about her life in Nashville, why she opened up the beloved bookstore Parnassus Books, and the woman who first sparked her love of reading. Plus, Ann shares some of her favorite book recommendations. (Event sponsored by Nashville Music City, Venue sponsored by W Nashv...

Margaret Atwood is a living legend. The Canadian author and poet has written over 50 books and has been published in more than 45 countries. Her 1985 classic "The Handmaid's Tale" garnered acclaim and alarm, predicting a dystopian future in which women had no rights. Now in her 80s, she  released her new book, "Old Babes in the Wood," a collection of 15 short stories. Jenna Bush Hager visited Atwo...

Jenna is joined by Read With Jenna authors Chris Whitaker, Alison Espach, Rumaan Alam and Jean Kwok live at the Read with Jenna Book Festival in Nashville, Tennessee. They share insights into their creative process, how their own lives have influenced their writing, and the power of storytelling. They also share advice for aspiring writers, book recommendations and answer  questions from the live...

As summer kicks off, Jenna Bush Hager welcomes bestselling authors Adriana Trigiani and Isaac Fitzgerald for a conversation about the perfect summer reads. They share top book picks for the season—including recommendations for kids, grads, and dads—and they  answer questions from the Read With Jenna community. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our...

In this special episode of Open Book with Jenna, Tiffany Haddish joins Jenna Bush Hager live at the Read with Jenna Book Festival in Nashville, Tennessee. Tiffany  opens up about her childhood and the challenges she overcame at a young age. She shares the story of the teacher who helped her learn to read as a teenager, the first book that she ever finished, and how the library became her safe have...

Live from the first-ever Read with Jenna Book Festival in Nashville, Jenna Bush Hager sits down with New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand for a heartfelt conversation about the end of her iconic Nantucket series, the joys and challenges of co-writing The Academy with her daughter, and the excitement of book-to-screen adaptations — including the Netflix hit The Perfect Couple . Elin s...

Jenna sits down with the legendary Judy Blume — the beloved author whose stories have shaped generations, opened minds, and helped countless kids feel seen. From childhood classics to bestselling adult novels, Blume’s impact is undeniable, with 29 books, over 90 million copies sold, and translations in 39 languages. Recorded at her independent bookstore, Books & Books in Key West, this heartfelt c...

Jenna Bush Hager sits down with bestselling author Sarah J. Maas , the powerhouse behind Throne of Glass , A Court of Thorns and Roses , and Crescent City . As ACOTAR celebrates its tenth anniversary, Sarah reflects on her early writing days, the manuscript she scrapped, and the debut that changed everything. She opens up about the impact of BookTok, balancing motherhood with deadlines, and why fa...

Jessica Soffer joins Jenna Bush Hager for a special Read with Jenna book club event to discuss her New York Times bestselling novel ‘ This Is a Love Story .’ Together, they explore the book’s themes of motherhood, memory, and identity. Jessica shares how Central Park and the city of New York deeply influenced her writing and answers live questions from readers. She also gives a glimpse into what’s...

TikTok star, lifestyle creator, and podcast host Christina Najjar—widely known as Tinx—joins Jenna Bush Hager to discuss her debut fiction novel, Hotter in the Hamptons, which follows the story of an influencer facing cancellation. Tinx opens up about her journey into content creation, the responsibilities influencers carry, and the vital role of female friendships. She also shares her candid pers...

Emily Henry is a New York Times & Sunday Times Bestselling author who has written five consecutive number one Bestsellers.  She has been dubbed the ‘Queen of the Beach Read’ and has helped redefine the romance genre. Jenna Bush Hager sits down with Emily to discuss how she began writing fan fiction in middle school, and the teachers that encouraged her along the way. She opens up about how she fir...

“Giggly Squad” podcast hosts Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo join Jenna Bush Hager to discuss their new book “How to Giggle: A Guide to Taking Life Less Seriously.” The duo opens up about the importance of prioritizing friendship, how their bond grew while filming Bravo’s Summer House, and what they hope readers take away from their book. Plus, they share their advice for pursuing your dreams and...

Jasmine Guillory is a New York Times bestselling author of nine novels including 'The Wedding Date' and 'The Proposal.' Jasmine joins Jenna to talk about her captivating new romance novel 'Flirting Lessons,' how she stayed resilient and optimistic through a hundred rejections, and how she made the leap from law to literature—and found bestseller success. Plus, she gives her best book recommendatio...

Aliza Pressman,  psychologist and author of the bestselling book “The 5 Principles of Parenting,” offers effective tools for parents to make their parenting journey less overwhelming and more enjoyable. She sits down with Jenna Bush Hager and shares valuable tips on raising resilient children by striking a balance between fostering autonomy and providing supportive parenting. Plus, she answers com...

Comedian Heather McMahan has made audiences laugh with her relatable and authentic comedy for years. Jenna Bush Hager and Heather sit down to discuss her rise in comedy - from performing at her junior prom, to going on tour. They chat about how Heather knew as a kid that she was destined to be a performer, how comedy legend Joan Rivers impacted her career, and how social media helped skyrocket her...

Ego Nwodim has entertained viewers with her standout impressions and roster of hilarious original characters for the past seven seasons of ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Jenna Bush Hager sat down with the hilarious Ego Nowdim to chat about her earliest memories of making people laugh, the life lessons improv taught her, and her journey from pre-med to joining the cast of Saturday Night Live. Plus, she ope...

Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than twenty novels including ‘The Nightingale,’ ‘The Four Winds,’ and “The Women.’ A former attorney, she has made it her mission to tell the often forgotten stories of women in history. Kristin sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to chat about how books were a constant in her life growing up, how her mom knew she was destined to become...

Rebecca Yarros is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels including ‘Fourth Wing,’ ‘Iron Flame’ and ‘Onyx Storm.’  Her latest and highly anticipated novel ‘Onyx Storm’ is the fastest selling adult novel in twenty years and sold 2.7 million copies in its first week. Rebecca sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to chat about how she drew on her experience with chronic illness and life...

Jenny Han is a literary powerhouse and New York Times bestselling author of the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” series and “The Summer I Turned Pretty” series. She is also the creator and co-showrunner of The Summer I Turned Pretty television series. Jenny sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to chat about how she built a media empire that showcases diverse characters and young women coming into the...

Coco Mellors is a New York Times & Sunday Times Bestselling Author. Her second novel, “Blue Sisters" was a Read with Jenna book pick.  Jenna Bush Hager sat down with Coco at a Read with Jenna book club event to talk about the deep, complicated and unbreakable bonds of sisterhood, and how her own relationship with her sister shaped the book. Coco opens up about her struggles with grief and addictio...

As 2024 comes to an end, we’re looking back at some of our favorite books, and literary trends from the year. Jenna Bush Hager sits down with her two friends, authors, and book lovers, Emma Straub and Isaac Fitzgerald. Emma and Isaac share how their families instilled their love of reading, the power of independent bookstores, and how to make reading a habit in the New Year. They also answer quest...